Fabrication of liposomal formulation containing paclitaxel and comparison of its toxicity with non-liposomal paclitaxel on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Chemotherapy is one of the most common methods in cancer therapy that has always faced challenges. The aim of the present study was to develop nano-carriers containing paclitaxel chemotherapy drug and to investigate its toxicity on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

Three formulations of liposomal nano-carriers containing paclitaxel with different concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were fabricated using the thin film method. Then according to the loading rate of drug, one of the formulations was selected and pegylated. Percentage of drug loading into pegylated nano liposomes, drug release pattern in healthy and cancerous cell conditions, size and surface charge of nanoparticles (using DLS) and appearance of nanoparticles (using SEM) was evaluated. At the end, the toxicity of liposomal system containing drug and non liposome drug on mcf-7 cell line was evaluated by MTT assay.

The results showed that drug loading percentage, size, zeta potential of pegylated nano-carriers containing the drug were 90/6±2/35%, 49/4nm and -46/74±5/55mV, respectively. Release of the drug from the liposomal system is slow within 72 hours in normal and cancerous cell conditions. The appearance of the nanoparticles was smooth and spherical, and no chemical interaction was observed between the drug and the nano-carrier. Paclitaxel liposomal also had more toxicity to MCF-7 cell line breast than non-liposomal drug.

Based on the results, the liposomal formulation of this study can be recommended for further research in breast cancer with respect to its physicochemical properties